The home care industry has been in significant crisis in recent years, and this will make it hard for you to find a reliable caregiver. A report by the Population Reference Bureau forecasts older Americans’ doubling from 46 million in 2016 to more than 98 million in 2060.
What do such statistics tell you? The demand for caregivers will increase with the growth in the number of older adults in the country. In support of this, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects about one million jew jobs to be created within the direct care sector by 2024.
With the supply of caregivers already short in the market, how will you find a reliable one? Medicaid users can use CDPAP to hire a personal caregiver of their choice.
If you are not eligible for CDPAP, here are tips to help you find and keep a great caregiver.
How to Hire a Reliable Caregiver
1. Develop a Great Job Posting
The job ad that you post will go a long way to getting you the caregiver you need. Usually, the ad acts as the centre of impression any jobseeker gets about your company, so it needs to be great.
Take the job posting to be something more than a highlight of the requirements and responsibilities. Give the prospects a chance to know more about yourself or your company by including your goals, mission, why you need private home help, and a brief description of the kind of people you would love on your team. Hiring someone who aligns with your goal increases the chances of your success.
2. Go For Quality
Perhaps you have heard that desperate times call for desperate measures, but this shouldn’t push you to hire just anyone you come across. Before you give a contract to anyone who succeeds in the background check, take enough time to evaluate their qualities. Make sure they have all qualifications and training papers that are required by law in US states, as each state has its own laws. For example, Pennsylvania caregiver training requirements are different from those of California.
Your focus should be to hire someone with the right qualities. Besides, a caregiver’s role is quite sensitive and requires qualities and attributes such as caring, loving, considerate, and kind.
3. Ask All The Questions
The interview sessions are your only time to make the right hire. Don’t be afraid to dig deeper into the candidate’s background and values. Ask all the questions you have so you are comfortable when making your decision.
Focus on knowing about the candidate’s experience and expertise in a situation similar to yours. The goal here is to get someone who can offer the service you need to best. So, find out their level of expertise and experience in different caregiving situations. Such information would help you make an informed decision.
4. Carry Out Background Checks
Your candidate passed all your tests during the interview, but that doesn’t make them the right hire for you. Carrying out a background check will help you establish whether they are who they say they are.
Engage their references and find out how the individual performed in the past job. Additionally, go the extra mile to check the person’s criminal record. Being thorough with the recruitment process will help you hire the best caregiver.
5. Have A Contract
An employment contract ties you and the employee into a form of agreement that none of the parties should go against. Don’t be too complex with the contract – it should be a simple document outlining your terms of engagement. Signing the contract shows that all of you agree to the set terms of engagement.
Final Thoughts
Finding and hiring a caregiver can be a daunting task, especially with the recent supply shortage as the elderly population grows. However, if you follow the above tips, you will have an easy time finding a caregiver you can trust!
*collaborative post
